Patent Application
20110305357
The present invention to musical footwear incorporates mini-speakers and an audio adapter receiver located on the footwear. A rechargeable battery power source concealed in a hidden compartment in the sole of the footwear powers the mini-speakers and receiver.
The desirability of playing music from small speakers such as mini-speakers on footwear such as shoes or boots is well known. Placing various music sources in the shoe such as an MP3 player, recordable microchip, integrated memory device or microprocessor with a ROM memory have been proposed. This placement exposes these expensive components to damage from dirt, water and shock from hard pounding when the foot wearer is engaged in for example a running activity. The present invention avoids these drawbacks by use of hand held devices having audio playing capabilities to serve as the music source.
The shoe mounted speakers work with any iPod, iPhone, iPad, iPad 3G, iPad nano, iPad Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPad Tablet, MP3 player, CD player, microchip player or computer to play music aloud at high volumes. Other examples of music sources include smart phones, Droid phones and HTC EVO 4G Android phones. One known product is the Dada Code M basketball shoes featuring built-in speakers in each shoe. A MP3 player having prerecorded sound tracks from a Macintosh or Windows computer is embedded in the sole of the right shoe. The MP3 player serving as the music source wirelessly sends music to the left shoe's speaker or to a speaker headset. The Code M shoes have limited battery life and only 128 MB storage capacity.
Some users reported a tinny sound when the shoe speakers were played and interference and signal dropout at times when using the speaker headset.
The following U.S. patents found in a prior art search were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,700 Norment discloses an integral unitary assembly slipped into a side pocket of a shoe. The assembly includes an audio speaker, battery and microchip which can be activated to play a musical composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,188 Drago et al discloses a sound system incorporated into articles of clothing such as shoes. The system plays preprogrammed music in one embodiment using a memory circuit which can be reprogrammed for new music programs. The shoes in one embodiment may display light patterns to illuminate in synchrony with the rhythmic beat of either an internal or external music or sound program. In one embodiment each shoe has a system interlinked using a wireless data-link transmitting circuit to control sound and light emanating from the shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,078 Wang discloses a plug-in antenna adapter for use with hand held portable devices. In one embodiment a compact portable wireless pedometer is placed in the sole of a runner's shoe to wirelessly transmit information to the portable device using the antenna adapter to receive information on how many steps a runner is taking. The adapter may be used to provide wireless transmit and receive functions for various audio and visual devices including cellular telephones, wireless media players, wireless cellular headsets, audio headphones, wireless speakers and hand held computers.
Also found in the prior art search was PCT Application PCT/US06/45746 (Lay et al) which discloses a data system having an electronic module in a shoe sole's shank member. The electronic module includes a microprocessor in electronic communication with a data storage device, a rechargeable battery, a decoding device to convert digital data to analog data and a wireless data link. Each shoe has audio speakers for playing sounds generated by the data storage device. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the electronic module and to the speakers. A USB port is provided in the rear heel of the shoe to permit battery recharging and to input data such as MP3 music program files to a ROM chip within the data storage device. In one embodiment a wireless link is used in both shoes to send data from the first shoe to the second shoe to enable stereo music to be played. In another embodiment the wireless link is used to send music to a headset for private listening enjoyment.
It is the primary object of the present invention to enable hand held portable devices such as those mentioned above to wirelessly transmit sound signals such as music to mini-speakers mounted in footwear such as shoes or boots. Cloud-based music heard through speaker shoes may be enjoyed for example by use of a hand held iPad 3G. What cloud-based music does is it allows music purchased to be stored on record label servers, allowing them to stream anytime. This removes the need for large storage at home. The songs are still saved on the iPad 3G so as to be accessible when internet connectivity is not available. As compared with the prior art devices, use of a sound source external to the footwear greatly reduces the weight while increasing the comfort of speaker mounted footwear. Some users of the present invention may save money by using already owned hand-held devices. It is a further object of the present invention to house up to four speakers in each shoe whereby eight speakers total in a pair of shoes may create a loud amplified sound.
It is another object of the present invention to enable the speakers to play music wirelessly whereby use of cords connecting the speakers to the hand held portable devices are eliminated.
It is a further object of the present invention to use a plug-in audio adapter transmitter compatible with the above mentioned hand held portable devices in conjunction with an audio adapter receiver placed in the footwear.
It is a further object of the present invention to power the mini-speakers and audio adapter receiver using a slim power pack such as a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery hidden in the sole of the footwear. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a USB power port in the rear heel of the footwear to enable recharging of the battery.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to minimize the size and weight of the audio adapter receiver, battery and mini-speakers so as to be suitable for use in many types of athletic shoes. Examples of footwear include but are not limited to basketball shoes and in-line rollerblade skates.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe-mounted speaker source which does not block the ears of the wearer so as not to create a safety hazard.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide quality music sounds of up to 100 feet free of static, noise, signal dropout and interference.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide in each shoe such an arrangement that is stylish, simple, inexpensive and easy to use.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a mini-speaker footwear system not requiring a special shoe mounted music source. The system uses an audio adapter transmitter to wirelessly transmit audio or sound signals generated by hand held devices such as for example an iPod, iPhone, iPad, iPad 3G, iPod nano, iPod Shuffle, iPod Touch, iPad Tablet, smart phone, Droid phone, Android phone, MP3 player, CD player, microchip player or computer to the footwear's mini-speakers. Use of a quality light weight lithium-ion polymer battery power source ensures longer music playing time. The battery power source is rechargeable through a small USB power port in the footwear's heel. The system uses modified footwear having multiple mini-speakers for stereo sound and high-definition stereo sound. The footwear is further modified to have a concealed compartment in the sole of the footwear to securely house the battery power source, a wireless audio adapter receiver and mini-speaker wiring harness from harmful dirt and water.
Additionally, it is a prime object of the invention to encapsulate a battery pack and a modular audio adapter receiver in a protective rubberized polymer capsule. This ensures waterproofing and offers cushioning comfort placed under the inner shoe sole.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is also disclosed a method of employing a variety of audio playing hand-held devices as the source for wirelessly transmitting sound signals to the footwear's mini-speakers.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
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A power battery source 10 shown in
A alternative power battery source 30 is shown in
The
Audioengine also manufactures another premium set, the Audioengine AW2 wireless adapter set wherein the audio-adapter transmitter portion 28 docks with an iPhone or iPod. While the transmitter 28 may be used with the
Both premium sets have a range up to 100 feet for effectively preventing static, noise, signal drop out and interference.
Referring to the logic diagram of
In another embodiment not shown, a shoe pair with both shoes having speakers, independent battery power packs and wireless audio adapter receivers achieves louder volume using up to four speakers per shoe from a single signal hand-held music source.
The present invention lends itself to various musical applications. Examples are: karaoke games or receiving dancing music along with dancing instructions played through the speakers in the shoes. Another example recently unveiled is the iPhone 4 video calling device having digital two-way communication capabilities which make it possible for the users to speak or sing through the speaker shoe system of the present invention.
While particular embodiments of the Speakz™ system for speaker footwear have been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
